Catherine Hardwicke to Direct 'Miss Bala' Remake

The Sony project will be a remake of a 2011 Mexican drama about a woman who enters a beauty contest but is then swept up in a deadly crime ring.

Catherine Hardwicke will direct a remake of Miss Bala for Sony.

Miss Bala was a 2011 Mexican drama directed by Gerardo Naranjo. It centers on a woman named Laura who, along with her friend, enters a Miss Baja beauty competition. But during rehearsals, she witnesses a gang killing DEA agents and nightclub-goers and is then kidnapped by the gang and forced to work for them in the deadly drug war.

The 2011 film debuted in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, and was Mexico’s submission for the 84th Academy Awards. THR'sreview described the film as "fast and dangerous."

Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer is set to write the Sony adaptation about Gloria Meyer, who finds herself a pawn, after her friend Suzu goes missing in Tijuana, in a dangerous game being played by the CIA, the DEA and a charismatic young crime boss.

Kevin Misher (Carrie, Public Enemies) will produce under his Misher Films banner, along with Pablo Cruz, of Canana Films, who produce the 2011 original. Andy Berman is set to executive produce.

Hardwicke has made a name for herself directing stories that feature strong female leads, including the 2015 Drew Barrymore-Toni Collette film Miss You Already, 2013's Plush, 2011’s Red Riding Hood and the 2008 hit Twilight. She is also attached to the film Stargirl with Joey King. She’s repped by CAA and Management.